Contemplating.

Contemplating.
Wayzata, Minnesota

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Sepia Saturday 88 - 20 August 2011

Post card reads, "Chicken Dinner."  California Alligator Farm, Los Angeles, Cal. Really?  Chicken?  Why do they always describe unknown meat flavors as tasting like chicken?

Welcome to SEPIA SATURDAY   ....and a brief mention of Trees on this firmly rooted Sepia Saturday  since Alan has offered a photo from a collection at one of my most favorite Museums, The Field Museum, in Chicago displaying a mysterious and powerful tree. 

Instead,  for me, I have chosen ....

Tourist spots in California, mostly San Francisco....
So in honor of any and all tourists looking for places to spend money and build up tourism join this quick journey through "An Unknown Poet's California."
 I begin with a famous tree...... there are many out west....


Postcard reads, General Grant Sequoia...gleaming white azaleas bloom in early summer at the base of might General Grant Big Tree in Kings Canyon National Park, California. The Grant has the greatest base circumference of any known tree, 107.6 feet. (according to this post card!)

A brief mention of a wee little tree.....below
Sarah Langenfeld (and unknown friend on steps) saying farewell to their frozen tundra home and leaving behind their snow-shoes.  Did you notice the pint size twig of a little tree to the right?   They will journey by train to California and enjoy life as tourists in a place where the sun rays are golden and the afternoon breezes are gentle....and they call it California.
 
Back reads, A bridge with a tunnel in its center.  It is the largest bore tunnel in the world and unique in that it is a double deck tunnel.  It is 78 feet wide, 58 feet high and 540 feet long.  - Air view of bridge and tunnel.
 

Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, this 1950's post card reads, "Shellfish stands line Fisherman's Wharf with their steaming cauldrons where live crabs are boiled after the buyer has selected his choice from the stacks on display."

Fisherman's Wharf, (my favorite location best pier ever too, is great for the entire family, lots of fishy stuff, amazing street entertainers, best views of the Golden Gate, the secret to the most delicious chocolate (tour for yourself) and did I mention fish?!  Alcatraz is another must see (with a too short boat ride) on your visit to Fisherman's Wharf......
Famous ROUND HOUSE Restaurant at Toll Plaza - Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Calif. Designed in 1938 the restaurant finally closed in the 70's and is now a visitor center and gift shop. Photo 1950's?
 


Busy Cable Car, post card from the 50's reads, "Climb the steep, terraced Powell Street at twilight time. San Francisco, California."

I'll close with a good assortment of lovely trees always found in any Japanese Garden...even in California.

Post card published by J. C. Bardell, San Francisco, Japanese Tea Gardens, Golden Gate Park, California.
I hope you enjoyed this California journey with me and if you feel like seeing more Sepia posts or want to post your own PLEASE DO!  It's great for tourism too! Go here quickly
http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2011/08/sepia-saturday-88-saturday-20-august.html

19 comments:

Kristin said...

I don't see the Japanese garden with trees. It says the words but no photo.

Kristin said...

opps, now it's there. Sorry!

Karen S. said...

Kristin, that's okay...I think Blogger is loading kind of slow today! Have a great day! Enjoy your trees!

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

Karen, what a fantastic post! I haven't been there for decades ... I can't talk my husband into going there either, he says it is too expensive. Maybe so, but still. I have been to the Japanese Tea Gardens, and I love your picture of it. BTW ... alligators really do love chicken, lol.

Take care,

Kathy M.

Little Nell said...

Made me smile from the start Karen. Lucky it wasn’t the keeper’s hand........I wonder if that would have tasted of chicken.....would the alligator care?

Postcardy said...

I found your card of Fisherman's Wharf with its steaming cauldrons especially interesting. I have a linen card of this and I thought the white blob was a printing flaw. Now I know that it is steam!

Karen S. said...

Postcardy, we probably have the same post card...I thought making it sepia it showed the steam off so much better, and I just love the sepia finish to things! It's amazing I got those cards (the Sf 50's era) from that post card show I went to! Just had a great time there! Did you say you were at that show in Eagan?

Sheila @ A Postcard a Day said...

Thank you for your whirlwind tour of California! It looks so gorgeous. I particularly like the sound of fisherman's Wharf. I feel hungry already. :)

Karen S. said...

Oregon Kathy, Oh I know they do! My sister-in-law has baby alligators swimming behind her house and oh yeah, alligators have quite a taste for many things!....I couldn't believe that day when one went swimming by in the little canal way they have they goes out into the ocean...oops and my children went out in their uncles little boat....! ;)

Unknown said...

Enjoyed your tour of the CA scenes. I have visited Austin Tx and they have a beautiful Japanese Garden there. Don't remember the name of the garden complex but it has many different styled gardens. Our son lives there. Great post.
QMM

Bob Scotney said...

I'll not get to the Japanese garden in California. I only know of one in the UK at St Mawgan - must visit it next time I'm there. I never new about that double decker tunnel. You've educted me again, Karen.

Karen S. said...

Little Nell - I don't think alligators would mind at all...just as long as they can eat!

Karen S. said...

Bob S. Thanks, and your tree posts are beyond amazing as well, I wish blogger would let me comment on your blog. I can't comment on Rosie's either. Everyone needs to really check out your tree series as well! As for the tunnel I first heard about it when I was in San Francisco, and of course always on the look out for great post cards, to send but mostly to keep!

Tattered and Lost said...

Ah yes, Yerba Buena Island. I spent a few nights there in a home very near to the western span of the Bay Bridge. At night my friend and I would stand above the span looking down at the tail lights heading into the city.

And I am so glad people still enjoy Fisherman's Wharf though few locals will even ponder a trip there.

Bruno Laliberté said...

AH-ah!!
i went to Montreal's botanical garden and i had a similar view, but at the chinese pavilion.

and guess what i'm having for dinner:
CHICKEN!!!
lime and pepper chicken, with a salad.
loved your selection, even for its too many uncanny resemblance with MY life!!
:D~
HUGZ

Karen S. said...

The Alligator Farm opened in Los Angeles in 1907 and in 1953 it moved to Buena Park, California and from lack of visitors closed in 1984...too bad...

darlin said...

Times sure have changed. Where do you find all of your old postcards? Do you go to the antique auctions and sales? I'd LOVE to visit Fisherman's Wharf, there's something about it that I've always wanted to go and I'd best get there one day so my grandchildren can look back on my photos and say "times sure have changed". :-) Have a fantastic Sunday Karen!

L. D. said...

These are some very interesting visual pieces. I really enjoyed seeing them. They are wonderful.

tony said...

My Local Indian Takeaway's Madras Curry Menu describes 'unknown meat flavors as tasting like chicken' !